Leslie Cullen , LMHC

Leslie Cullen is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with three decades of experience. She helps people who are struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship concerns, substance use, and issues common to LGBT clients. Her approach is down-to-earth and focused on what someone can do now to feel better. Leslie emphasizes practical change in the present moment. She uses cognitive and behavioral techniques to teach skills for coping, managing mood, and improving sleep. Sessions also draw on attachment ideas to understand how past relationships shape current reactions. Her work often blends insight with action. Conversations look at thinking patterns, behaviors, and the small changes that build new habits. Mindfulness is used to increase awareness and reduce reactivity in stressful moments. Leslie has particular experience supporting people facing grief, addiction, attention challenges such as ADHD, compassion fatigue, and the emotional strain of illness or caregiving. She also addresses intimacy-related concerns, sexual orientation and gender identity matters, and isolation or loneliness. People can expect a collaborative tone in sessions. The therapist helps clients name goals, try different strategies, and adjust what isn’t working. Practical tools, clearer thinking, and steadier daily routines are common focuses across work together.

How Leslie’s Approaches Translate to Online Care

Leslie uses cognitive behavioral techniques to help people identify unhelpful thoughts and test new behaviors. CBT is useful for anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and anger by teaching practical skills and short exercises to try between sessions.

She also draws on attachment-based ideas to look at how early relationship patterns shape current reactions and closeness. That work helps with relationship difficulties, intimacy concerns, and feelings of isolation by building awareness of typical responses and testing new ways of connecting.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Leslie will talk with each person about their goals and preferences, then mix methods to suit those needs. She checks in regularly and adjusts strategies based on what is helpful in everyday life.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is good when visual cues and a fuller conversational flow are helpful. Phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited or a quieter check-in fits a busy schedule. Live chat and messaging allow shorter, more frequent touchpoints and support between long sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into daily routines, attend sessions from different locations within Washington, and keep momentum between appointments.